LEOMINSTER -- Actress Sally Field famously cried "you like me" during an Academy Award acceptance speech. Leominster's economic development team could make the same claim after a week of positive news.

It was a good week for Economic Development Coordinator Lisa Marrone and the city's Office of Planning & Development.

There were announcements that Affordable Interior Systems, LLC, still plans to relocate from Hudson with up to 385 jobs; and F&M Tool and Plastics on Pioneer Drive wants to expand and create 36 new jobs.

Then, Los Angeles-based Vintage Real Estate announced Thursday that it has purchased The Mall at Whitney Field for an undisclosed price and has already signed Burlington Coat Factory to fill the former Circuit City space.

Lisa Marrone

Those were the headline-grabbing announcements, but the city has been busy attracting a wide range of smaller companies and retaining existing businesses, Marrone said.

"In my 20 years, these are most exciting times," said Mayor Dean Mazzarella.

Attitude

Success starts with the city's commitment to economic development, he said.

Whether it's a small business such as Chic Sport Tailor, which celebrated its expansion and relocation with a ribbon-cutting last week, or Affordable Interior Systems, the city gives them a sense of importance and rolls out the red carpet to welcome them, Mazzarella said.

Marrone said she is committed to fostering business relationships with the private sector and developing contacts even when there is nothing in the works, so she is ready when companies are ready to relocate or expand.

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Developer James Whitney said City Hall's attention to detail and willingness to walk business owners through the bureaucratic red tape that comes with opening or expanding is a key element of economic success.

"In Leominster, I think people are happy (with) the way economic development is coming along," Whitney said. "It's an attractive place to do business; there is support from City Hall -- any questions that need to be answered get answered. They get a lot of help downtown, and that helps us as landlords."

He finished Whitney Square about two years ago and is now working on the 41,000-square-foot former mill at 98 Adams St.

Whitney announced Friday that Edward Jones Investments, which saw its space burned in the Columbia Building fire in November, has agreed to lease about 1,800 square feet of the property.

A couple more tenants are close to signing leases, but their names were not disclosed.

"We're being picky who's going into the property," Whitney said. "Because of the property and the ways it's been done over and the way Whitney Square went, we're able to pick and choose the users we want in there."

The City Council on Tuesday confirmed a special tax- assessment break for office-furniture maker Affordable Interior Systems of Hudson, which wants to relocate into a 585,000-square-foot plant at 25 Tucker Drive. The company is still waiting on state tax breaks before committing to the move.

The relocation would take much of the city's empty inventory of manufacturing space off the market, but there is still plenty of undeveloped space at Leominster Business Park on Tanzio Road and Southgate Business Park on Research Drive.

"We've had a lot of discussions on new construction," Marrone said.

Advantages

The interest among manufacturers and retailers in expansion in Leominster is exciting news but has been more than dumb luck, said North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce President David McKeehan.

"After going through a long dry spell in the region, it really is gratifying to see there is a lot of interest in Leominster; in Fitchburg, too, but Leominster has really worked at getting the attention," McKeehan said. "They work the economic development programs in the city and the state, and it's paying off."

The manufacturing sector accounts for 25 percent of the private-sector workforce in North Central Massachusetts.

Boosting the employment rate in such an important sector of the economy will help other sectors grow, McKeehan said, adding that Leominster has some clear advantages over other communities in attracting business.

The city has more space in relatively modern manufacturing buildings compared to other communities, McKeehan said.

Also, easy access to highways is an important element because manufacturers want to be able to ship their goods easily, he said.

"You know the old bromide -- in real estate its all about location, location, location and certainly being so easily accessible by Route 2 makes a difference," McKeehan said.

The city has the Career Center and Workforce Investment Board to find and help train workers, which is an advantage, Marrone said.

Businesses are keenly interested in transportation programs, funding programs, and energy or conservation programs, she said.

Ward 2 City Councilor Wayne Nickel believes the city is doing OK, given its standing as a relatively small city. He was happy with Rollstone Bank & Trust's redevelopment of the site of the former Friendly's restaurant in Monument Square, which opened last week.

Work downtown is not done, Nickel said.

"The other major link will be what will hapen to the property where the Columbia Hotel was," he said. "We'll see what develops there. I'm sure the city will do whatever it can to develop partnerships to move it along."

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